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  • 4 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?" Joshua 7:10 WEB.Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord all that evening. Yesterday, he had been a mighty warrior. Now Israel had lost the battle at Ai, all because one of the men with him had become greedy and brok...
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    Posted by Dion Todd
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    Posted by Dion Todd
    But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper' " 2 Kings 5:11 WEB.Naaman stared at his new skin with amazement when he came up from the muddy wa...
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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
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Simple Man

  • In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, and said, 'Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.' Matthew 18:1 WEB

    Children depend on their parents for everything. They do not have the strength, resources or knowledge to make it alone. They could not live without them. They do not respect one person above another. They are tender hearted and hurt easily because they do not have the cynical shell that we grow to protect us as we get older, much like a hard shell crab.

    As adults, we grow to be much different. We love to be independent and the greatest. We respect one person above others. Our lives get busy, complicated and filled with selfish ambition. Our trinity becomes me, myself and I. We build up walls to keep out the pain and when we block the pain, it also blocks things like love and trust. No one can really get close to us anymore, and we really have no time for them anyway. Welcome to the world that we live in.

    Jesus called for a return to the simple, humble life of a childlike demeanor. To be teachable, loving, humble and innocent. To forget about who is the greatest among us and lay aside our pride. To look to our Father for our needs and obey His voice. The greatest in the kingdom of God will be the simple man, or woman, that manages to shake off the worldly standard that we are so accustomed to and become something better.

    Prayer: Father I thank You today for helping me to remove my shell. Help me get back to the simple childlike faith of trusting You day by day. Help me find balance in the way that I look at others and let me see them through Your eyes, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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31 comments
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Love and trust do not come easy in a world that doesnt care about hurting the feelings of others. I have love for others... but I do not trust that others will take care not to hurt  and attack me emotionally. It has been my experience more times than I care to count. Lately as I am trying to move forward from a place of conflict, I have only experienced backstabbing  and hurtful behaviors from others envolved. I am in prayer over it all and trying to keep my distance but I work with these ladies so we have to have contact. Deffinately makes it hard to trust people with my feelings. So I pray, and pray some more, God said be kind in the face of adversity. So I  tried to kill them with kindness only to be called a hypocrite. 
September 25, 2015
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Allie Ponzo
Allie Ponzoedited: September 25, 2015 Dianna, I feel your pain, I too have delt with malicious gossip, slander and being ignored by people who I thought were my closest friends and confided in only to have it used against me.  It was very painful and confusing and still hurts today and it's been a couple years. I've never gotten any answers or reasons for thier hurtful or harmful judgement and gossip. I do have a good idea where it stems from though but in any case it dosent take away the hurt and yes the mistrust of others. I am very guarded when it comes to getting to know other women now and have no close girlfriends to speak of and I desire to have one very much and have been praying that God would send me just one that I can be close to and confide in and do things with and fully trust again. I have many acquaintances that I can have fun with at times but that is not same.  I have no hate and have never tried to get back at or wished any harm to them but the pain and anger still reside there because when I see them many different feeling whel up inside of me, anger, frustration, tears of sadness and a resistant smile once in a while. I must keep it in prayer all the time. Just wanted you to know that I hear you and so does God.  
September 25, 2015
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Thank you Allie, it helps to know I am not alone in how I feel :) Yes it feels like I have to be guarded and watch my back constantly now and it doent feel good, but the Lord walks with me and he will calm my emotions once again and I will stand strong and know God loves me no matter what, and I can pray for those who think it's ok to be unkind for the fun of it, to emotionally bully an old lady with chronic pain, who is dealing with an adult child recovering from serious mental health issues, is not ok, but I will be ok :) I will stand strong in God and walk forward not looking back! I will love my enemies and pray for them. Still working on the trust thing;) but I am sure God has my back even when it feels like no one else does. Many blessings to you Allie and thank you for your kindness :)
September 26, 2015
  • 3
Mark Duell
Mark Duell There is so much power in scripture. This verse alone delivers a big blow to any believer that is not in tune with Lord. I mean look at the results if you don't follow what He is saying! , 'Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. How many people just gloss over scripture and never really read it's content? I thank the Lord for these reminders in His word. This also proves that a "Christian" cannot walk with the Lord and do His will without being constantly in His word. I thank you again Pastor Dion for listening to Lord for your devotionals. May you continually be blessed.  
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Amen.
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Nell Neathery
Nell Neathery Amen Pastor! The keywords for me are:  Simple, coming out of my Shell, Childlike Faith, Trust, Day by Day, Balance.  The answers to balance:  Thank God, Ask Him to help me, let me see other through His eyes in the name of Jesus!!! (another way to keep it simple:  Ask, Listen, and Follow the Holy Spirit).  :-)
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome lord you are amazing thank you for taking our sins and receiving us amen
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!
September 25, 2015
  • 4
Norman Glaze Sr
Norman Glaze Sr Amen Pastor. And this remended me of the Old Lynyrd Skynyrd Song: Simple Man, lol.
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Dion Todd
Dion Todd I was a musician for many years and a lot of my titles come from songs. I can be praying about what to name something and a song will start playing in my head so I just go with it. :)
September 25, 2015
  • 1
Norman Glaze Sr
Norman Glaze Sr lol. Thanks so much for Sharing That with us! I love it.
September 26, 2015
  • 3
Retta Morgan
Retta Morgan Lord help me too lean on you  and give you all of me  I need you So much  Heavenly father keep my mind stayed on you  I want to please you Lord in jesus name AMEN.  
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Eric Rodriguez
Eric Rodriguez All glory to G O D     !   !   !   
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Albert Chau
Albert Chau For NDE cases, people always heard God telling them what have you done for others while you're on earth. Our lives are never just about us, the trinity: me, myself and I. That's funny pastor Dion.
September 25, 2015
  • 4
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield I LOVE this devotional! My kids think I'm crazy because it's the little things in life that excite me--I could stare in awe at a praying mantis for hours! My idea of "fun" is a long car drive, my Bible (yes, I do read the Bible if I'm a passenger!) and the companionship of my pets and friends.Perhaps my illness has prompted me to look to the simplistic and really enjoy God's creation. Nature has always fascinated me.Or, maybe my kids are right--I just never grew up! God bless you for today's reminder that I don't have to!
September 25, 2015
  • 2
MP Taylor
MP Tayloredited: September 28, 2015 That is such a beautiful attitude, Kathy! :) I'm right there with you...  I've always believed in the saying "We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." :D  
September 25, 2015
  • 4
MP Taylor
MP Taylor Amen!! This reminds me of when I was a child, maybe around 7 or so and I rememeber thinking that it wasn't logical for God to have created me with a love of animals, and yet also with severe asthma, which kept me from most animals.  So, I concluded that He must be going to take the asthma away eventually.  Well, I still have asthma, but the Lord did come through with what I really wanted: by the time I was a teenager, I was able to have my beloved dog in the house, as well as another dog, a bird and gerbils! I was able to take horseback riding lessons and still today have 5 animals as part of my family, most of whom are rescues.  What God dreams God puts in your heart will not be denied! :)  I have been working to get that attitude I had as a child back in relation to what I have now to overcome.  Thank you for the reminder, Pastor Dion!  :) 
September 25, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Love animals also.  Took on two rescue dogs, a cat from a friend which she got from the street and liter trained it and 7 hermit crabs.  These crabs fascinate me as I have studied them.  Welcome Mary. Not sure I did, to RHM.  Great church site whose sight is on Jesus.  Blessings to you!
September 25, 2015
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MP Taylor
MP Taylor Thank you Cheryl! I was fascinated by hermit crabs also when I was growing up in CT. We lived close enough to the shore to walk to the beach and a friend and I would play with and feed the hermit crabs in the tide pools. They are such interesting creatures! :)
September 28, 2015
  • 3
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I love how Christ made salavation and living our Christian life so simple. I pray that I will believe God and trust Him with simple faith as a child.
September 25, 2015
  • 4
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! I have learned to lean on prayer. I communicate with God all day long even in simple requests. He is always there and never fails to provide whether it be wisdom and guidance , safe travels , or through Divine appointment,  He leads me through the hours of daylight and let's me rest peacefully at night. The closer I draw to Him, the closer He draws to me!
September 25, 2015
  • 4
Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt For some reason this message hit me smack between the eyes. setting boundaries is good initially when we are hurt, but they are not good if they are keeping people out  and isolating ourselves and we are not working out our problems with the other person. we remain stagnant and don't move forward. thanks pastor Dion.
September 25, 2015
  • 2
Eddie Marrero
Eddie Marrero I just needed this today...Thank you
September 25, 2015
  • 3
Allie Ponzo
Allie Ponzo I love this devotional and so many of the posts!! Thank you:)
September 25, 2015
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Love the depth you wrote that took me deeper to take an inventory of me and a world I grew up in.  The reading helped me to take a deep inventory of me.  What I want to be..to look like.  Being an adult does change things about ourselves.  I see it in my own(5) .  I dread actually my grandchildren growing up.  Just enjoy them now I think... for the rest is in God's hands.  Building walls a family member where actual cinder block walls were built between a neighbor & himself.  I actually could not believe it but  I later saw it.  Hiding pain I heard you say.  There is a lot of pain there & it becomes abuse.  I pray for them all.  It is sad to me.  It does close doors for relationship.  I have many this way in my family therefore I am excluded from them.  Being a Christian really upset them.  Thank you soo much for the time you put into these messages.  God IS Blessing you.  Pastor/psychologist.  Jesus is that to.  Using parables is like that for me.
September 25, 2015
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen Cheryl!! I have felt that pain of being excluded because I am christian in my family as well. God is close to the broken hearted so he must be very close to us in these hurting times :) Peace and Love my sister in Christ.
September 26, 2015
  • 1
edward lewis
edward lewis This is an awesome message.I have experienced all of this.when I put up those walls I not only blocked out people and things, I also locked things in that I needed to get rid of.God downsized me then He upgraded to become a better servant. I have come to believe in and depend on a powe greater than myself. 
September 25, 2015
  • 1
Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander I Love the message Amen
September 25, 2015
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Lord, Help me to see through Your Eyes.
September 26, 2015
  • 1
Janet Marsh-Lord
Janet Marsh-Lord Thank you. This was very helpful.
September 26, 2015
  • 1
Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen.Thank you Pastor.,for the reminder,that I needed.It sometime seems hard, when people keep wanting things to be done for them.We are always their to help others.Yet when we need help, people always seem to busy.Please help me Lord Jesus,not to turn away,but still be there to help others,and not to become selfish.In Jesus name
October 28, 2015